Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-11-24
TO DIE AT HIGH NOON.
A French Scouts Marrow Escape
From a Horrible Death In Mexico.

active scout In bazalnes army bnhn
Pierre Danton.
When Pierre volunteered to sliI
into Quinquambo, TO see what the
Mexicans we're doing, it never oc.
CURED to him that there was the
slightest danger.
Quinouambo was q little mountain
village, with small garrison, and
Pierre determined TO appear in the
role of deserter. The son of q
Spanish mother, ke did not look much
like q Frenchman, and spoke the
language of the country like native
But there was one thing the scout
had not thought of. Colonel Campoi
then commanding the post of Quin
uuambo, had served on the eastern
coast in the early part of the war, i
Pierre had known this fact he woulc
have blown out his brains rather thai
play the spy in the vicinity OF the ter
rible Campos.
At sunrise the Frenchman walked
boldly into the village and gave him
self up to the first sentinel he met.
"Comrade," replied Pierre, "yor
have spoken truly. Bazaine is il
despair. His men are deserting by
hundreds. They have nothing to eat
and the usurper is without money te
pay them
lin q few weeks they will be driver
into the sea, said the enthusiastic
corporal.
You speak like prophet, ans
wered the spy.
In the presence of Col. Campos The
Frenchman measured his words
The veteran listened without show
ing any interest or surprise. Hi
brown, leathery face never changed
its expression, and his eyes were ap
parently fixed upon the ground.
.And you would serve the repub-
lic?' he asked, coldly.
TRY me, was the enthusiastic re
sponse.
How am l to know that your stor.
is true2'
sLet me swear began Pierre
No! shouted the colonel in a voic
of thunder.
The officers and soldiers gave loo
of surprise and for the first tim
Pierre felt uneasy.
Bind him hand and footF was th'
unexpected order.
Despite his protestations two mel
carried out the Colonels instructions
and then braced the prisoner In sit
ting posture against a convenient wal
"A year ago, said Campos, Il cap
tured that fellow near Vera Cruz.
shot off the little finger on his righ
hand, and he marked me here on tn
forehead with his saber. The Villa
escaped that night, but another pris
oner told me all about him. He is nc
soldier. He is spy. He has cause
more trouble than any other man L
Bazlne's army. Now Pierre Dantol
what have you to sayp
The Colonel is mistaken, sal
Pierre 4 never saw him before and
am no spy. My name is Jean Rou
Vile
Lookp exclaimed soldier.
A glance showed that the prisoner
little finger was missing.
Only coincidence muttere'
Pierre.
Guard him well,' said the Colone
No court martial is wanted here
and the grim soldier walked off.
Securely pinioned as he was Pierr
saw that he could not escape. His eye
roved restlessly about, but there wa
nothing TO encourage him.
The barbarians, he growled. The
will butcher me in cold blood. doub
whether they will be kind enough t
hang me. That Campos looks like
fend, and the chances are that he
even now inventing some diabollca
torture. Well, it is the fortune 9
war
Quinquambo did not look very in
teresting to the spy as ne sat ther
prooped up against the Colonel's head
quarters. There was plaza and
few scattered houses around it, excer
on one side, where they had been de
stroyed by fire. There were no Cit
zens. The inhabitants had abandone
the town leaving it to the garrison.
There are not more than thre
hundred OF the yellow rascals, muse
the spy. Lordl Wouldn't I like t
see some of our cavalry come along
They would take the place in th
twinkliug Of an eye
Just then two soldiers came alon
and lifting Pierre in their arms, cal
ried him to the center of the plaz
The captive at first thought that hi
hour had come; but the men pro
ceeded in sullen silence to tie him |
the mouth cf the solitary cannon, a
old fashioned twelve.pounder, pointe
at the vacant side of the square. The
lashed him with his breast to th
muzzle of the gun, so securely that
was impossible for him to move.
Pierre thought Of the brutal Britis